Making waves

It is with bold ambitions that Brighton College Kensington opens its doors in the autumn term. The objective: to be the prep of choice in London.

Competition is tough in a borough stocked with top preps. But to understand this new kid on the block you need to know the family.

Brighton College was founded in 1845 and in 2020 was named ‘UK independent school of the decade’ by The Sunday Times Academically, this co-ed day and boarding school is a powerhouse, with pupils netting 610 Russell Group o ers in 2022. Its success has generated outposts in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Bangkok, Singapore, and this yea r, Hanoi. An existing prep in Brighton and family memberHandcross Park Prep near Haywards Heath feed into the senior school, where competition for places is intense.

This , however, will be Brighton’s first foray into London. I’ve come for a chat and a cup of tea with headteacher Lois Ga ney at the Prince’s Gardens school site. Here, it was announced earlier this yearthat Prince’s Garden s Prep will become Brighton College

Prep Kensington, and interest is brewing.

“The initial reaction from parents was, ‘Oh not another change’,” says Ga ney, “but within five minutes they’d googled Brighton College and were very happy.”

Ga ney ’s focus is on “inspirational teachers” who, she says, “flock to Brighton.” “It’s a learning community. Our teachers choose to be part of organisations – for instance our science teacher is leading a science - quality team about best practice in primary schools”. She herselfwas deputy head at Brighton College Singapore and a head of department at Handcross. She is well versed on doing things “the Brighton way”, where challenge and curiosity are highly valued and acts of kindness championed STEAM subjects (s cience, tech nology, engineering, a rt s , maths) are a particular strength , and problem solving, teamwork and outside -the-box thinking nurtured.

This summer, the school ’s four houses will be reconfigure d , with new science and English departments, and greater provision for years seven and eight. There are two acres of grounds – a rarity for London. Plastic furniture will be swapped for blonde wood and the Brighton coat of arms, featuring its twin pelicans, put in place.

The aim is for 330 co-ed pupils – aged two to 13 – in three years’ time, with 30-50 per cent of leavers heading for Brighton College.

It’ll be the Brighton way, but with London woven into the curriculum “London will be our classroom,” says Ga ney, with sports facilities at Imperial College, walks in Hyde Park and an Education Zone pass giving blanket permission to visit museums. L brightoncollegeprepkensington.co.uk